Phlox plant named ‘Ditomfra’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Phlox  plant named ‘Ditomfra’, characterized by its compact and upright plant habit; freely branching and flowering habit; strong stems; large dark pink-colored flowers; and tolerance to Downy Mildew.

BOTANICAL DESIGNATION: Phlox paniculata CULTIVAR DENOMINATION: ‘DITOMFRA’ BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant, botanically known as Phlox paniculata and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Ditomfra’.

The new Phlox plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact Phlox cultivars with attractive leaf and flower coloration and disease resistance.

The new Phlox plant originated from a cross-pollination in Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands in July, 2000 of two unnamed seedling selections of Phlox paniculata, not patented. The new Phlox was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands in July, 2001.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phlox plant by cuttings in a controlled environment in Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands since 2001, has shown that the unique features of this new Phlox plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Phlox have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Ditomfra’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Ditomfra’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Phlox:

-   -   1. Compact and upright plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching and flowering habit.     -   3. Strong stems.     -   4. Large dark pink-colored flowers.     -   5. Tolerant to Downy Mildew.

Plants of the new Phlox differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phlox have larger flowers than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Phlox have more fragrant flowers than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Phlox and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Phlox differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phlox have stronger stems than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Phlox and the male parent selection differ         in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have pale         pink-colored flowers.     -   3. Plants of the new Phlox are tolerant to Downy Mildew whereas         plants of the male parent selection are susceptible to Downy         Mildew.

Plants of the new Phlox can also be compared to plants of Phlox paniculata ‘Rijnstroom’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands, plants of the new Phlox and ‘Rijnstroom’ differed primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phlox had larger flowers than plants of         ‘Rijnstroom’.     -   2. Plants of the new Phlox had more fragrant flowers than plants         of ‘Rijnstroom’.     -   3. Plants of the new Phlox were tolerant to Downy Mildew whereas         plants of ‘Rijnstroom’ were less tolerant to Downy Mildew.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phlox, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Phlox. The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Ditomfra’ grown in a container. The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical leaves of ‘Ditomfra’. The photograph on the third sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘Ditomfra’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Boskoop, The Netherlands, under commercial practice during the summer in containers in an outdoor nursery. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 12° C. to 30° C. and night temperatures ranged from 4° C. to 16° C. Plants had been growing for one year when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Phlox paniculata ‘Ditomfra’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed selection of Phlox             paniculata, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed selection of Phlox             paniculata, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About two weeks at 15° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 35 days at             15° C. to 25° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, thin; pale cream tan in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form/habit.—Compact and upright plant habit;             moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with about four             lateral branches per plant; pinching enhances branching.         -   Plant height.—About 29.5 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 32.6 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 17.1 cm. Diameter: About             4 mm. Internode length: About 2.1 cm. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Sparsely pubescent. Color: Close to 143B to 143C,             near the nodes, close to N186A and N186B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 12.1 cm.         -   Width.—About 4.3 cm.         -   Shape.—Narrowly ovate to elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse to attenuate.         -   Margin.—Very finely serrate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Sparsely pubescent.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 144A             heavily flushed with close to N186A. Developing leaves,             lower surface: Close to 144C flushed with close to 147A.             Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Between 137A and 139A;             venation, close to 144B to 144C. Fully expanded leaves,             lower surface: Close to 137C; venation, close to 144D.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 146B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type/habit.—Single rotate flowers arranged in             terminal compound panicles; flowers face mostly upright or             outwardly. Panicles rounded and hemispherical in shape.             Freely flowering habit with about 80 flowers developing per             inflorescence.         -   Fragrance.—Moderately fragrant; sweet and pleasant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Continuously flowering from July             to September in The Netherlands.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about ten days on the             plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Shape: Narrowly oblanceolate. Color: Close to 72B; lower             half, close to N186C; base, close to 145C to 145D.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 11.1 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 11.1 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 2.9 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single             whorl; petals fused at the base into a narrow tube. Length             from throat: About 1.7 cm. Length fused: About 2.2 cm. Lobe             width: About 1.7 cm. Lobe shape: Roughly spatulate. Apex:             Rounded. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Developing petals, upper surface:             Close to N74B to N74C; towards the throat, between N66A and             N74A; throat, close to 187A. Developing petals, lower             surface: Between 75A and 76A; tube, close to N77B. Fully             expanded petals, upper surface: Close to N74B to N74C;             towards the throat, between N66A and N74A; throat, close to             N77B. With development, color becoming closer to 73A; spots             near the throat, close to 76A to lighter than 76A; towards             the throat, between N66A and N74A; throat, close to N77B.             Fully expanded petals, lower surface: Between 75A and 76A;             tube, close to N77B.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single             whorl, fused towards the base. Length: About 8 mm. Width:             About 1.5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Narrowly apiculate.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: Developing sepals, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to N186C; towards the base, close to 145C to             145D. Fully expanded sepals, upper and lower surfaces: Close             to 146C to 146D; towards the margins, close to N77A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 7.5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to             146A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to             146B to 146C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically             five. Filament length: About 1 mm. Anther shape: Oblong.             Anther length: About 1.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 11D.             Pollen amount: Scarce to moderate. Pollen color: Close to             8C. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About             2 cm. Stigma shape: Three-parted. Stigma color: Close to             150D. Style length: About 1.8 cm. Style color: Close to             187D. Ovary color: Close to 143A.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the Phlox have been observed to     be tolerant to Downy Mildew. Plants of the new Phlox have not been     observed to be resistant to pests or other pathogens common to     Phlox. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Phlox have been observed to     have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about −20° C. to about 40° C. 

1. A new and distinct Phlox plant named ‘Ditomfra’ as illustrated and described. 